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Hi friend,
 
If you're in Seattle/Tacoma, I'm looking for an assistant for a stock photo session this Friday, August 2, from 2:30-5 pm at Lake Tapps County Park. 
 
An assistant for this type of session helps me lug things around, does fetch-and-carry, keeps me on track with the shot list, keeps track of time. And, in this case, helps our mermaid model with any tail management needed. You may get wet and/or sandy.
 
The pay is $75. If you're interested, please respond to this email ASAP.
 
And a quick note on the BLP website: The work that I thought would take me a week has dragged on, and on, and on. 
 
Insert someone who was supposed to be fixing the Wordpress theme erasing chunks of the site entirely, days of the site being down altogether, and endless screaming.
 
I hope the site will be back up to full function and also have a shiny new look soon!
 
Now, on to this week's letter….
 
The big buzz this week -- in both thin and fat circles -- is American airline Southwest Airlines' announcement that the company is ending its open seating sometime in early 2025.
 
After the switch, customers will need to reserve a specific seat on a flight, rather than Southwest's current method, where customers can choose any open seat on the plane.
 
But what does that mean for Southwest's customer of size policy?
 
The customer of size policy, which allows people who can't fit in a standard seat to use a second one for free (or to buy two seats and be refunded for one after the flight) is beloved by many fat folks, and for people like me makes flying possible.
 
It's not yet fully known what effect the shift will have on the CoS policy.
 
Fat activist and movement elder Marilyn Wann says,
 
I called their 800 number just now and the person there said that the Customer of Size policy is still in effect. When checking in or boarding a plane on the day of a flight, one can request an extra seat. If the flight is not full, workers should offer adjoining seats. If the flight is full, they would reschedule the passenger to the next available flight.
 
Check Marilyn's post for an animated discussion in the comments as well.
 
Also, have you seen this feature on my work in The Phoblographer yet? Here's a little excerpt:
 
THE PHOBLOGRAPHER: WHAT’S THE MOST INTERESTING PART OF CAPTURING BEAUTY AND HEALTH AT EVERY SIZE?
 
Lindley Ashline: People in big bodies are encouraged our whole lives to shrink and disappear and become invisible. We’re put in the back row in group shots. We’re discouraged from appearing in photos.
 
Or we become the ones who are always behind the camera so we can avoid visibility entirely.
 
My photography sessions give people a space to try rejecting that mentality and become visible, and they just blossom.
 
From a selfish standpoint, with that visibility I get to see all kinds of bodies, in all shapes and sizes and skin tones, and from an artistic and aesthetic standpoint it’s incredible.
 
 
Unapologetically fat,
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P.S. Share this week's letter or save to read later here
 
The Body Liberation Guide is funded entirely by readers like you. Want to support my work? Buy me a coffee or support on Patreon and get rewards.

 
"There was really only one step to my body acceptance: Look at pictures of fat women on the Internet until they don't make you uncomfortable anymore. That was the entire process. 
 
(Optional step two: Wear a crop top until you forget you're wearing a crop top. Suddenly, a crop top is just a top. Repeat.)"
 
> Lindy West in “Shrill”
 

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The Conversation
Here's what's interesting me this week:
 
» When you gaze into the mirror, expressing dissatisfaction with your reflection, asserting that you're not beautiful… (read)
 
» Fat representation at the Olympics opening ceremony (see)
 
» The Fat Positive... Everything Podcast just launched (listen)
 
» Customer of size policy overview (U.S.-centric) (read)
 
» "Being Fat Doesn’t Mean I Have to Dress From A Place of Shame." (read)
 
» The Spoon Rating System for Trails (read)
 
» A Tip To Remember For Your Winter Clothing Drives (read)
 
» Representation is more than sticking a photo on something (read)
 
» Reader Question - What To Do When My Doctor Is Gaslighting Me? (read)
 
🦄 Unicorn chaser: Delicious Parks (read)
 

 
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Renton, WA 90858, United States